[RVD]

Many people here have made references to this other posters’ soul, here on the board.
But did they really understand what a soul was[is]?

Soul searching!
He’s got soul!
Soul sista!
Soul brother!
Soul food!
“We will tear your soul apart!” Famous Pinhead quote from Clive Barker’s highly successful ‘Hellraiser’ horror series. And one of my favorite lines as well.

..but what is a SOUL, really?

The American Heritage College Dictionary defined:
http://www.answers.com/topic/soul
soul (sol) [/b]n.[/b] 1. The animating and vital principle in human beings, credited with the faculties of thought, action, and emotion and often conceived as an immaterial entity. 2. The spiritual nature of human beings, regarded as immortal, separable from the body at death, and susceptible to happiness or misery in a future state.

As defined by The Bible:
http://www.scripturessay.com/q341b.html
In the Old Testament the Hebrew word for "soul" is nephesh. Nephesh means "a person," "breath," or "soul" or “life.” Just as there is a difference between atoms and electrons, there is a difference between the soul and the spirit. One is finer than the other. The core of an atom is the smallest particle thereof.
The soul or life is subject to death, but the spirit is indestructible.
Jesus said in John 6:63:
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life."

Eccl. 12:7
"then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it."

The "soul" or life, or body, is subject to death and resurrection, but the spirit is the essence of life. The spirit can depart from a person just as it departs from the soul (James 2:26 -"For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.")

Animals are said to have "soul" in the sense that they have life. However, they are never considered identical with men, for men were created in God's image and endowed with His spirit. Animals do not have "spirit."
Honestly now, who rights this stuff?! And how do they know?!


Now, depending on what religion or faith one subscribes to, will determine the difference of definition.

I noticed that the dictionary and the Bible make reference to humans only. Does that mean humans are the only creatures possessed of a soul? And if that’s the case [and we are also animals] how do we reconcile this distinction? I mean, aren’t we animals as well?
And is that to say lower animals can’t feel?

I once knew this kindergarten girl from my daughter’s class who scared the heck out of me. I’m serious here. I tend to try and feel people’s intend when I meet them. Odd, I know, but it’s a way for me to determine whether a person is possessed of good intentions, or just plain nasty folks. Anyway, I’d see this little girl playing with the other kids on the playground, eating lunch with friends while on field trips, and doing class work along with everyone else. The one thing I recall of her was that she was exceptionally quiet. And I never really paid much attention to her until one day, as she was passing by me, she suddenly stop, looked up at me, and smiled. And I swear that when she looked at me, my knees buckled. There didn’t seem to be anything behind her eyes, is the best way to describe it. I got the distinct feeling that she was ‘empty’— that there was nothing ‘there’. It’s not an easy feeling to describe. And I’d never felt that way with anyone before or since. Another thing I recall was that you couldn’t distinguish her pupil from her iris [eyes]. Both were darker than I’d ever seen. Maybe this had something to do with it as well, but I doubt it.
Anyway, I wonder if this is what people mean by soulless? I’ve met others who’ve come close to soliciting this feeling from me, but never like this girl. She was very scary.

After that day, I've always wondered whether people can be born without this vital piece. Like someone born sightless, or limbless.

Please Discuss...

[rebel_ffighter]

It is the uncoscious self,it exists within everyone but we are not conscious of it.Otherwise called "spirit".And I will have to agree with Oscard Wilde:

“Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.”

[IceSkaTennisFan]

I'm a skeptic about almost everything including the idea of the soul. I know it might sound weird, but I don't know if it's fact or fiction. I'll have to do some research to get a better understanding.

[Apoleb]

Soul is a presumed extranatural entitiy (doesn't take a material form) that is responsible for the core of the human personality.

[hingisGOAT]

soul: one of a long list of concepts made-up by irresponsible humans who simply do not understand the world around them see: God, Satan, miracles, etc.

[ico4498]

i'm no religious zealot but there is more to us than chemistry.

if yah strip away the spiritual mysticism, i'd say its that thing that makes each of us unique. 'course in some of the examples from the original poster 'soul brother' etc, yah can easily tell the meaning from context.

"I'm a rebel, soul rebel" -Bob Marley
"Soul seekers, I say" - Peter Tosh

[meyerpl]

It's what I sold to the devil at the crossroads in return for being able to play guitar like a god.

[SelesFan70]

That thing that NO politician has...

[RVD]

ooooohhh... You guys are gooood.

Seems I'm not alone in the conceptional of view ‘soul’.
As akin to the idea of love, good, and evil, SOUL can take on many meanings and mean different things to different people. Even the Bible doesn’t fully define it.

Thanks guys. I was going nuts pondering that one.

[le bon vivant]

your personality?
the part that goes to heaven or hell?

["Topaz"]

Originally Posted by ReeVeeDynasty

.. And I never really paid much attention to her until one day, as she was passing by me, she suddenly stop, looked up at me, and smiled. And I swear that when she looked at me, my knees buckled. There didn’t seem to be anything behind her eyes, is the best way to describe it. I got the distinct feeling that she was ‘empty’— that there was nothing ‘there’. It’s not an easy feeling to describe. And I’d never felt that way with anyone before or since.

A well-intentioned line of questioning here: "Any odd drink before that event? ...Anything like empty stomach, low blood pressure, or heat exhaustion? "

[RVD]

Originally Posted by Topaz

A well-intentioned line of questioning here: "Any odd drink before that event? ...Anything like empty stomach, low blood pressure, or heat exhaustion? "

"Wha chu talk'n 'bout Mr. T?"